"This will be undertaken monthly, and will be supported by a report every quarter. If any issues arise about the roosting areas, the project team will involve Auckland Council and the Department of Conservation," he says.

"Trials have been held on the section of the Northwestern Motorway that passes through the Motu Manawa-Pollen Island Marine Reserve to gather data to ensure that there is as little impact on the marine reserve as possible when the upgrade project begins," he says.

Mr Coote says staff have been developing proposals for installing viewing platforms along the State Highway 16 cycleway.

"Hopefully after the construction is finished we can make some improvements and create a space that can be used for education so the whole community can enjoy these birds," he says.

Improvements to the Te Atatu interchange will cost $100 million and will enlarge the on/off ramps, add an additional lane in each direction, widen Te Atatu Rd bridge and lower the level of the motorway.

Pony club president Lisa Aspin says NZTA is taking over five hectares of the 13 hectare site.

"But they will be sorting us out some new paddocks on empty land right next to where we are now," she says.

"They are going to fence it and drain it because it is quite boggy.

"We have one more event this month using the land and we were going to have another event in January which we probably wont be able to have.